‘Mahagathbandhan’ an illusion; BJP will win in 2019, says Amit Shah

Mumbai:BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday made light of the opposition ‘mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance), calling it an illusion and expressed confidence that the BJP would retain power after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking at the Republic Summit here, Shah said he was sure that the Shiv Sena would be with the BJP in the next Lok Sabha elections. Talks are on (with them), he added.

“The reality of the opposition ‘mahagathbandhan’ is different. It (the opposition alliance) doesn’t exist and is a ‘bhranti’ (illusion),” Shah said.

“The mahagathbandhan does not exist anywhere. We have fought against all of them in 2014 and defeated them to form the government. They are all regional leaders, they can’t help each other,” the BJP president said.

Shah said the BJP would gain in West Bengal, North-East and Odisha in 2019.

“The issues of elections are: in five years how have we ensured national security and defeated corruption. We have provided toilets in eight crore homes and electricity in 2.5 crore homes,” Shah said.

“Not only for the BJP, but it is also necessary for the country that a strong government comes to power,” the BJP president said.

The election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were definitely not favourable for the BJP, but it is not right to link them with the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said.

State polls couldn’t be linked to the Lok Sabha poll results as both elections are fought on separate issues, Shah said.

“It is our duty to work for the people and convince them, but if the mandate is against us we accept that too,” he said. “I am not against analysis, but the elections are fought on different issues. The issues on the ground are different,” he added.

“In 2014, the BJP had government in six states, now we have it in 16 states. So tell me who will win the 2019 elections,” the BJP president said.

“We accept the people’s mandate (in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh). We will introspect on the poll results,” he said.

The BJP chief said it did not matter who is pitted against Narendra Modi in the 2019 polls (as prime ministerial aspirant). “We are going ahead on the basis of our strength and not on the basis of someone’s weakness,” he added.

KOLKATA: In yet another attempt by Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal to stop Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) President Amit Shah from addressing rally in the state, the state government has denied permission for landing of Shah’s helicopter in Malda district.

The BJP president, who was recently treated for swine flu at AIIMS in New Delhi, is scheduled to address a rally in Malda on January 22. As per BJP’s plan, Shah will reach Kolkata and then take a helicopter from there to reach Malda where he will participate in a public rally with BJP workers from North Bengal.

The Malda district administration has informed the BJP that it is not possible to grant permission to land helicopters at Malda airport this week.

“As per report of the executive engineer, PWD (civil), Malda Division, up-gradation of work at Malda Airport is going on in full swing. A large quantity of fine sand, dust and GSB materials is lying all along the runway and also stacked all around the site,” Additional District Magistrate of Malda said in a letter to BJP.

The letter added that the ongoing construction work has also affected the maintenance of temporary helipad at the airport and it is not possible to grant permission to Shah’s chopper to land at Malda Airport.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of BJP Malda unit had written to Malda DM saying that West Bengal government is using Malda Airport for landing their helicopter every Wednesday and they are refusing permission to Shah’s helicopter.

Centre threatening to impose Prez’s rule in Andhra: Chandrababu

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday alleged that the Centre was threatening to impose President’s Rule in the state but, he said, nobody would be cowed down by such threats.

He claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a “negative leader” under whose leadership the country was regressing. Addressing a teleconference with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders, he attacked the prime minister and the BJP, saying they did nothing special for Andhra.

“They say one Union minister will come to the state every week. What good have they done for the state? On top of it, they are issuing threats that President’s Rule will be imposed in Andhra Pradesh. There is nobody here to be cowed down by their threats,” Naidu said.

Referring to the opposition parties’ rally in Kolkata two days ago, the TDP chief said it marked the beginning of the end of dictatorial rule and gave confidence to the people of the country. “We will hold a similar rally in Amaravati in which leaders of 22 parties will take part,” Naidu added.

The TDP chief lashed out at his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao and YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, saying they were working under Modi’s direction.

The TRS and the YSRC were conspiring to create misgivings among the backward classes so that they are distanced from the TDP, he alleged. He said the backward communities should unitedly thwart such attempts.

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